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9 Offensively Enormous Beverages

These ridiculously oversized sweet drinks provide as many as half a day’s calories and are loaded with sugars. See what you could be eating—instead of guzzling!

By Lauren Gelman
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© iStockphoto/Thinkstock
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Calories from sugary drinks may be particularly harmful to your health.

New York City Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed ban on large sweet drinks is hardly without controversy. But there’s no debating some beverages are way, way, way more calories, sugar, and sometimes fat than we need. Women who drink two or more of them a day were more likely to develop abnormal levels of fasting glucose—a sign of diabetes, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions last year.

Bloomberg's ban would apply to sweetened drinks larger than 16 ounces, but we found many popular chains selling shockingly bigger options. Take a look.

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Photo by Elliott Brown/Flicker Commons
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KFC’s 64-Ounce Pepsi

The damage:
780 calories
217 grams of sugar
0 grams fat

This is a whole gallon of fluid, not even close to an individual portion. As a comparison, the American Heart Association recommends adults consume about 6 to 9 teaspoons (the equivalent of just 30 to 45 grams) of added sugar a day.
Instead, you could eat: It's the caloric equivalent of a KFC Honey BBQ sandwich, a house side salad with ranch dressing, macaroni and cheese, and half an apple turnover.

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Photo by Bradley Stemke/Flicker Commons
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7-Eleven’s 44-Ounce Super Big Gulp

The damage:
512 calories
128 grams sugar
0 grams fat

We couldn’t help but notice that 7-Eleven describes this as “genetically engineered to quench even the most diabolical thirst.”

Instead, you could eat: It's the same amount of calories in a bag of salt and vinegar potato chips, a bag of M&Ms, and 24 almonds.

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Photo by hansol/Flicker Commons
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White Castle’s 44-Ounce Fanta Orange Soda

The damage:
470 calories
147 grams sugar
0 grams fat

Instead, you could eat: It's the calorie equivalent of three whole White Castle sliders!

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Photo by Shoshanah/Flicker Commons
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Smoothie King’s 40-Ounce Acai Adventure

The damage:
912 calories
150 grams sugar
10 grams fat

Note the slogan on the side of the cup: "Chewing is over-rated." Well, with such seemingly healthy ingredients as acai and blueberries, this drink's main downfall is sheer size. Even the chain's smallest offering (20 ounces) provides a whopping 456 calories and 75 grams of sugar.

Instead, you could eat: It's the calorie equivalent of a small Acai Adventure, a bowl of Cheerios with skim milk, a California sushi roll, 8 animal crackers, and a serving of baby carrots with hummus

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Photo by Like_the_Grand_Canyon/Flicker Commons
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Taco Bell’s 40-Ounce Dr. Pepper

The damage:
500 calories
135 grams sugar
0 grams fat

Instead, you could eat: At Taco Bell, it's the calorie equivalent of a chicken soft taco and order of cheesy nachos!

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© 2010-2012 McDonald’s
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McDonald’s 32-Ounce Sweet Tea

The damage:
280 calories
69 grams sugar
0 grams fat

Iced tea is a healthy choice, but the sweetened version packs a lot of sugar, especially in a huge size.

Instead, you could eat: For the same amount of calories at McDonald's, you could order a whole Caesar salad, four-piece Chicken McNuggets, and any size regular iced tea.

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Photo by El Gran Dee/Flicker Commons
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Wendy’s 29-Ounce Barq’s Root Beer

The damage:
360 calories
99 grams sugar
0 grams fat

Instead, you could eat: If you opted for a kid-sized root beer instead, you could also get a half-portion of the Berry Almond Chicken Salad.

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© 2012 Starbucks Corporation
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Starbucks’ 24-Ounce Chocolate Cookie Crumble Frappuccino® Blended Beverage

The damage (made with whole milk and whipped cream):
560 calories
76 grams sugar
24 grams fat (15 grams saturated)

The jumbo size, whole milk, and whipped cream make for a trifecta of gluttony here. Order the 12-ounce size with nonfat milk and no whipped cream, and it's 200 calories, 38 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of fat.

Instead, you could eat: Get the smaller, healthier version of the drink and you could also get a spinach and feta breakfast wrap and a fruit cup.

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Photo by Andy Eick/Flicker Commons
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Dairy Queen’s 23-Ounce Arctic Rush Frozen Beverage

The damage:
350 calories
70 grams sugar
0 grams fat

A small version of this drink, just 13 ounces, provides 210 calories and 41 grams of sugar.

Instead, you could eat: A mozzarella string cheese, a cup of strawberries, and two chocolate kisses if you got the smaller Arctic Rush.

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Your Comments

  • Nlm1959

    While I agree a 64 oz Pepsi is way too much that isn’t a gallon. A gallon is 128 oz.

    • Guest

      The writer of this article is just shootin’ bull…her calorie equivalents are random and ridiculous! 

    • Dave

      Glad others are catching this, completely throws off thier credibility.

  • Guest

    Not up to the government to tell us what and what not to eat and drink, or how much. They must have stock in soda, because it would force everyone to buy smaller, more expensive drinks, which is why some of us buy the larger sizes. I’ve had a big gulp in my refrigerator for three days, and often use this process

  • Les

    64 ounces is a half-gallon, not a gallon

  • Anonymous

    More offensive (their term) than a drink that I can; choose to purchase or not purchase; drink over a full day, instantly or not at all, is that they think (Bloomberg, etal) that I need someone to tell me what’s good for me!  Worse, the nebulous “they” have the temerity to tell me what I should eat instead!

  • Guest

    This is so misleading.  That size container is a family size and not an individual size.

  • Guest

    This is so misleading.  That size container is a family size and not an individual size.

  • Rick

    there are 128 oz in a gallon . Fact check yourself.

  • Lydia

    I am very disappointed in Readers Digest.
    I was hoping that you would not get political. 
    Bloomberg’s ban would limit our freedoms.
    We are losing them everyday as it is.
    Sorry to see this in your magazine.

  • Taxfan

    Living in the South, a 32 oz or bigger drink, especially unsweet tea, goes down really fast.  The heat and humidity is too much without a big drink.

  • CHARLIEM

    IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE IN A GALLON AND A HALF GALLON THEN YOU SHOULD NOT BE PUBLISHING THIS STUFF

  • Wendler

    Idiots!  64 oz. is a half gallon.

  • Judy

    Instead of banning soda, why don’t the companies just remove what is bad in it and replace it with healthy ingredients.  We all grew up on soda and fruit juices.  Why should the burden be put on us?  All food and drink should be made healthy for consumption in the first place!

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NDLP364H6PKCPY7OIU6NI6HRSM Dont Tread On Me 1

      “Why should the burden be put on us?” It is called responsibility Judy. It’s YOUR responsibility to make the right choses for yourself or your children….it comes with with freedom from government control and adulthood! Honestly how mindless and lazy have we gotten in the US?

  • Bgoodgion

    Come on people – 64oz is one-half gallon, NOT “a whole gallon”.  Granted it is way too much, but let’s keep the facts straight…

  • Xane707

    The argument isn’t that these drinks are good for you, it’s that it’s not the government’s business to make that decision for you, for me, for the seller, for anyone. It’s not their business!

  • Xane707

    The argument isn’t that these drinks are good for you, it’s that it’s not the government’s business to make that decision for you, for me, for the seller, for anyone. It’s not their business!

  • Tom

    64oz is NOT a gallon, and the drink is served in a BUCKET with a HANDLE and is meant for a whole family.   Get your facts straight before you sensationalize.
    Offensively enormous indeed. Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right.

  • Gael

    How can we believe anything they say if they make gross errors like that (64 oz. = 1/2 gal., not a whole gallon)!

  • Guest

    Isn’t this called PROHIBITION?